Snow route parking bans FAQ

Background

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Snow Route Background

​A snow route parking ban is a temporary parking restriction on roads designated as snow routes. Parking bans allow crews to clear snow more effectively and efficiently when they don’t have to work around parked cars. Snow routes include major roadways, collector roads and most bus routes, and are marked by blue signs with a white snowflake. Check out the map to see specific snow route locations.

​The City will call a parking ban when a significant amount of snow has fallen and / or built-up around on-street parking spots along designated snow routes.

Process - How snow route parking bans work

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Snow Route Process

​If a snow route parking ban is deemed necessary, The City will announce, through the media and other channels, that a parking ban will be implemented in the next one to two days. The advisory encourages Calgarians to be proactive and remove their vehicles from the street before a parking ban goes into effect. Once the parking ban is in effect, all vehicles must be moved off snow routes until the ban is lifted.

​Snow route parking bans could be in effect for up to 72 hours. There may be times when parking bans are shortened if the work is completed in less time.

​No, not until The City announces that the parking ban has been lifted. Snow plows often return to the same locations multiple times to ensure the snow is cleared as thoroughly as possible. If you are unsure if you can park, check Calgary.ca/snow or call 311 to find out if the snow route parking ban is still in effect.

​No, please put your blue, black and green carts on the sidewalk or boulevard next to the curb when a parking ban is in effect. If your cart is picked up from a back lane, put it in the same place as usual. Make sure to leave at least one metre between the cart and surrounding objects such as parked cars.

Signage

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Snow Route Signage

​Possibly. Snow route signs may only be posted at entry points to the route. Roads with only a few entry points will have fewer signs. It’s better to know than be towed; check the snow route map if you're unsure.

Parking

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Snow Route Parking

​If you live or work on a snow route, find alternate parking in a garage, underground parkade, surface lot or on a secondary side street. Calgary Parking Authority provides free overnight parking in their parkades and surface lots when a parking ban is in effect. Visit Calgary Parking Authority for information on lot locations.

Parking is allowed in back alleys during a snow route parking ban provided the following conditions are met:

The alley is wider than 6.1 metres and there are no pre-existing parking restrictions.

There's at least 1.5 metres of space left between the vehicle and driveway or garage.

The vehicle is not parked directly across from a driveway or garage.

There’s at least 1 metre of space left between the vehicle and closest blue, black and green carts.

There's at least 3 metres of clearance on either side of the vehicle to allow others to pass through unobstructed. See the traffic bylaw for more information.

​On-street accessible parking zones located along snow routes are excluded from parking bans at all times. If you or a household member have mobility issues, learn more about accessible parking zones and how to apply for one.